Dennis Schauffer

(1943-) Actor, theatre technician, director, arts activist, teacher theatre researcher, and academic. ***

Biography

Born Dennis Leslie Schauffer on 12th March, 1943.

Training

BA Hons. Post-graduate in Speech and Drama, University of Natal, (Durban)1965; MA Drama and Theatre Arts, Bretton Hall, Leeds University,(United Kingdom)1971; PhD Speech and Drama, University of Natal (Pietermaritzburg), 1978; University of Cambridge Accreditation for teaching IGCSE Drama. 2003; TEFL Certificate. London. 2010; TITC Business English Certificate. London. 2010.

Career

Full-time Lecturer, Speech& Drama, Univ. Natal, Durban. (01/01/66 to 31/12/68). • Full-time Lecturer, Speech & Drama, Univ. Natal, Pietermaritzburg.(01/01/69 to 31/12 74). • Senior Lecturer, Speech & Drama, Univ. Natal, Pietermaritzburg. (01/01/75 to 01/07/79). • Senior Lecturer, Drama and Theatre Studies, Bretton Hall, Univ. Leeds ,United Kingdom, (01/08/79 to 03/05/81). • Director of Arts, City of Durban, (04/01/82 to 30/01/84). • Director of Arts, Durban Arts Association, (01/02/84 to 31/ 12 /86). • Professor of Drama, Univ. Durban-Westville, (01/01/87 to 31/05/99 – Department closed and staff retrenched). • of English in Africa. (3 yr. appointment from 01/07/04) • Professor Emeritus, University KwaZulu Natal. (Originally appointed at University of Durban-Westville. March 2002). • H.O.D. Drama and Dean of Arts, International School, Mafikeng. (Jan 2004 – Dec. 2006). • Associate Professor, Visual Arts and Design, Vaal University of Technology.(Jan. 2006 to 32/12/10). • Director of Asoka Indigenous Knowledge Systems CC 2011/065052/23. • Director of Asoka English Language Editing CC 2011/065055/23. • Director Asoka Research Pty.(Ltd.) 2012/152190/07. • Director Asoka Indigenous Knowledge Systems NPO. 088-874. • Member of the NRF (National Research Foundation) Assessment panel for Performing and Creative Arts and Design (2011-2013). • Research Facilitator and Editor for the School of Business and Leadership, University KwaZulu Natal.(2011-2013).

Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance

As teacher

Became a full-time Lecturer in the department of Speech and Drama, University of Natal, Durban. (01/01/66 to 31/12/68), then moved to the department of Speech and Drama, University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg(as lecturer 01/01/69 to 31/12 74, senior lecturer 01/01/75 to 01/07/79). In 1979 he was appointed Senior Lecturer, Drama and Theatre Studies at Bretton Hall, University of Leeds, United Kingdom (01/08/79 to 03/05/81).

After a few years as an arts administrator, he became a Professor of Drama at the University of Durban-Westville, (01/01/87 to 31/05/99). In 1999 the Department closed and staff were retrenched.

Appointed Professor Emeritus at University of Durban-Westville in March 2002 (later the University KwaZulu Natal.

Became H.O.D. Drama and Dean of Arts, at the International School, Mafikeng. (Jan 2004 – Dec. 2006), then Associate Professor, Visual Arts and Design, Vaal University of Technology.(Jan. 2006 to 32/12/10).

As Arts administrator

He returned to South Africa at the end of 1981, to become the Director of Arts, City of Durban, (04/01/82 to 30/01/84), and subsequently Director of Arts, Durban Arts Association, (01/02/84 to 31/ 12 /86).

As researcher

Founder-director of Asoka Theatre Research from 01/06/99 to date, which included various other directorial positions, such that of Asoka Research Pty.(Ltd.), Asoka Indigenous Knowledge Systems, Asoka English Language Editing, and so on. It also led to many research publications by Schauffer and colleagues. (See ESAT Bibliography)

Other research [portfolios include Research Associate in the Institute for the Study of English in Africa (ISEA), Rhodes University (01/07/04 - 30 June 2007)

Sources

Go to ESAT Bibliography

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He was Professor and H.O.D. of Drama at tUniversity of Durban Westville Drama Department from 1987 - 19** Ran the Durbnan Arts Association from with Elizabeth Sneddon.

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